HS2 ‘more important than ever’, says LEP boss
Kick-starting the development of HS2 in the East Midlands is now more important than ever, according to the chief of an East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Speaking at the Midlands Enginer Conference at Nottingham Trent University this week, Peter Richardson, chairman of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership which covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, said: ” “Following the EU referendum result, the importance of HS2 and other large infrastructure projects is greater than ever.
“The Midlands will have three HS2 stations and will also be served in part by the Crewe station so the project is obviously paramount to the future success of the region’s transport network and economy.
“We are already seeing the benefit of Phase 1 with £11 billion of contracts being awarded and new jobs created and we need to see similar benefits for Phase 2 when the line goes north from Birmingham to the East Midlands and beyond.
“We are also calling on government to make the most of our regional airports given their excellent connections to HS2, so that we can increase our international opportunities.”
Research has found that improving road and rail links across the Midlands could unlock more than £1bn of extra economic growth a year and create 300,000 new jobs.
Delegates also heard how the Midlands Connect partnership, which includes 28 local authorities, 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships, Network Rail, Highways England, HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport as an associate member, was developing a long-term transport strategy to power the Midlands Engine.
